Pinecrest on hook for $409K in damages for delaying developer’s project

A Miami federal jury handed a stinging rebuke to the Village of Pinecrest last week, ruling that government officials in the affluent Miami-Dade suburb violated a residential developer’s civil rights by conditioning a building permit on the donation of private land. On Thursday, jurors awarded developer Megladon $409,000 in damages after finding the village’s permitting practices constituted a widespread, unconstitutional tactic that effectively coerced homeowners and small builders into surrendering portions of their properties to obtain routine construction approvals.  “This is a major victory for property owners across Florida,” said Tim McGinn, Megladon’s attorney, a shareholder with Gunster law firm. […]This article originally appeared on The Real Deal. Click here to read the full story.